Direction and position indicator for motor vehicles



H. HOHMANN May 24, 1938.

DIRECTION AND POSITION INDICATOR FOR MOTOR VEHICLES Filed June 11, 1936 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR May 24, 1938. H. HOHMANN DIRECTION AND POSITION INDICATOR FOR MOTOR VEHICLES Filed June 11, 1936 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR Haw WWW.

H. HOHMANN 2,118,559

DIRECTION AND POSITION INDICATOR FOR MOTOR VEHICLES Filed June 11, 1936 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 May 24, 1938.

. INVENTOR 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 H. HOHMANN Filed June 11, 1936 DIRECTION AND POSITION INDICATOR FOR MOTOR VEHICLES May 24, 1938.

INVENTOR May 24, 1938. H. HOHMANN DIRECTION AND POSITION INDICATOR FOR MOTOR VEHICLES 5 sheets-sheet 5 Filed June 11, 1936 INVENTOR They not alone affect the cost of operation but Fig. 4 shows a front view of a conventional Renee M 24.1938 2,113,559

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE DIRECTION AND POSITION INDICATOR FOB MOTOR VEHICLES Hans Hohmann, New York, N. Y. Application June 11, 1936, Serial No. 84,627

2'! Claims. (01. 40-42) This invention relates to a direction and posla mechanism that can be readily manipulated, tion indicator located in a motor vehicle. Indlregulated and adjusted while the vehicle is in cators of this type serve the purpose to point out motion. on a road map to the driver, the geographical Other objects will be referred to in the descriplocation of his vehicle on the road and the progtion'to follow and more particularly in the anress he is making in his travel. Indicators prenexed claims. viously shown and described in patent litera- The invention is illustrated in the accompanyture are of either the semi-manually operated or ing drawings in which: the automatically operated type. The latter, Fig. 1 is a diagrammatic view of the direction which isthe more preferable, generally comprises and position indicating mechanism showing its m a mechanism operated by the motor vehicle to connection with the iespective steering and speed work in unison with a slow moving road map devices of the motor vehicle. provided for indicating purposes. The road map Fig. 2 shows two diagrammatic views of an auis therefore caused to travel past a stationary tomobile making a turn while moving either for- 5 pointer at a speed which is proportionate to that ward or backward and the location of the operof the vehicle. able indicator showing the direction of the road.

In providing and employing a movable and spe- Fig. 3 shows the assembled indicating mechacially prepared road map in an indicator or this nism mounted to the dash board of an automotype, certain difficulties and discrepancies arise. l pr bly to the right of the erin Wh elalso disclose certain defects in accurately and steering wheel lever of an automobile connected correctly indicating the vehicle's position. This with a device for opera i flexible rod adis due to the pointer or arrow, designating or ing to the indicating mechanism. pointing in only a single, instead of several di- Fig. 5 is a side view of the arrangement shown rections. in Fig. 4.

The pointer indicates therefore only different Fig.6 is a side view of the map and indicator positions but not different directions of the vehousing, mounted to the dash board of the autohicle. The inconvenience thus caused is that the mobile and pushed .drawer like underneath the driver will not readily discern on the usually dash board when not required. specially prepared map, the angular or curved Fig. '7 shows a top view 0! the map and indi- 30 movements which the vehicle is bound to make cator housing. during its travel. "Fig. 8 is a side view of an electric bulb mount It is therefore one of the main objects of my mg. invention to provide an indicator for motor ve- Fig. 9 1 top vi of thi b 1 mounting 11 Which Will indicate on a road p not Fig. 10 discloses a sectional side view of the alone the position of the vehicle but also the dimap and indicator housing on li |o |u Fig 7 rection it is taking during ts av This means Fig. 11 is a sectional top view of the indicator that whereas in former indicators the indication device on line Fig 12,

. 0f the Ve c e's Position Was given only along a Fig. 12 shows a sectional side elevation of the straight line or one direction on the road map, indicator device on li z |z Fig, 11, 40 the present invention provides an indicating 13 is a sectional top View of t lower part mechanism wherein thevehicle's travel in any of the indicator device on line |3 |s Figs. 10 direction is clearly shown and pointed out to the and 12. driver or other Occupants 0f the Vehicle- Fig. 14 discloses a back view of a rail mecha- It is another object of my invention to emi 11 14.. Fjgs 7 d 10, 45 ploya road map (for this indicator) ofany stand- Fig 15 is a top View of the m1] mechanism on ard make purchaseable on the market, and to line 15-45 Fig. 14, insert the map or a part thereof into a suitable Fig, 16 i th from; vi w of a ti and 1- mounting or housing wherein it is visible in its r cti n control mechanism,

ent y and easily interchanged for another p- Fig. 17 shows a sectional side view of same on 50 A further object is to maintain the road map line l1-l1 Fig. 16. 1 stationary and have its pointer movableto indi- Fig. 18 is a sectional back view of this mechcate both the position and direction of the veani on lin |8--la Fig, 17, hicle. In carrying out my invention I provide two Another object of this invention is to provide fundamental operating and control mechanisms 55 The direction of a vehicle and consequently that of the pointer in their forward movements is manifested always in three ways, in that the arrow may point to the left, to the right or straight ahead, depending on the respective locations of the steering wheel and the consequent position of the front wheels of the automobile. If for instance the arrow points to the left during an extended period of its travel, it will indicate that the front wheels are turned left at the same time and that the vehicle is describing a curve during this extended period. If the arrow does not deviate from its original position and is maintained at a constant angular location to the left, it would indicate that the vehicle is describing a circle, as will be pointed out in more detail later on.

The present invention is therefore provided with an effective direction control, connected to the steering mechanism of the vehicle which can follow a straight or a curved line on a road map, as will be described in more detail hereafter.

The motion control for the pointer or arrow, preferably driven by the speedometer of the vehicle, includes a speed-change control, which is employed for the purpose of imparting to the moving pointer a definitely selected speed. The latters magnitude is dependent on the size of the road map or the scale to which it is drawn. Since my invention provides that standard road maps are to be used for indicating purposes, and since these maps are drawn to different scales, it is evident that the speed of the pointer must be made to correspond to the scale to which a selected map is drawn.

It is consequently necessary to provide this motion control of the pointer with the above mentioned suitable speed-change control which permits the selection of a definite speed forthe pointer in proportion to the distances to be covered on the map.

In carrying out the various objects of my invention, the mechanisms shown in the drawings comprise a desirable construction and arrangement of parts, which shall be described and explained in detail presently.

The indicator device 23, Fig. 1, which is shown in constructional detail in Figs. 11, 12, '13, is movably held in the map and indicator housing 2| Figs. '7 and 10. The top portion of this housing has a conventional standard road map 22, located above the indicator device 23, and held between two glass plates 23, 24. The lower portion of this housing comprises a hinged bottom part 26. provided with one or more snap locks. This bottom part has fast to its inner surface 21, a metal plate 23, which substantially covers the bottom surface 21.

To the inner surfaces of the respective front and rear side walls 30, 3|, of casing 2|, are rigidly mounted angle pieces of metal forming respective tracks 32, 33. The indicator device 23 is supported by rails 34, 35, and freely movable therebetween.

Both guide rails are kept separated and are rigidly joined at their ends by suitable angles or cross pieces 36, 31, Fig. 10.

These cross pieces, in conjunction with the guide rail, form a rectangular frame 33 which rests on four rollers 33 of the indicator device 23, Figs. 11 and 12-.

Frame 33 is pressed against rollers 39 by two spring devices 40, located on cross pieces 36, 31 and comprising each a roller bar 4|, Fig. 14, which is hinged by suitable levers 42. The latter are movably held on the inner or the shorter upright surface of each of the angular cross pieces 36, 31 and maintain a series of rollers 43 in conjunction with bar 4|.

Guide parts 44 fast to cross pieces 36, 31, maintain compression springs 45, which press these cross pieces upward and thus cause rollers 43 to contact with the inner or the shorter horizontal surfaces of the angular shaped tracks 32, 33.

Both spring devices 40 will therefore press frame 33 against the four rollers 39 of the indicating device 23. Rollers 46, Fig. 14, rotatably mounted on the inner or the shorter surface of each cross piece 36, 31, touch the inner or shorter vertical surfaces of the respective angular tracks 32, 33, thereby maintaining frame 38 in a relatively fixed location in a longitudinal direction, permitting the same to move only laterally with the indicator device 20.

Frame 33 has fastened to each of its end parts suitable hooks or lashes" which prevent frame 33 from falling out of the casing 2| whenever the hinged bottom part 26 is lowered.

The indicating device 20 comprises a hardened steel wheel 50, Fig. 12, which is centrally mounted on a shaft 6|, held in bearings 52, located on the inner surface of a cylindrical wheel housing 53, Figs. 11 and 13. The latter is rotatably held within a partly cylindrical indicator housing 64, provided at its top portion with bosses 55, to which are rotatably fastened rollers 33. At the top surface of housing 54 are rotatably held four guide rollers 56, to definitely locate this housing relative to the guide rails 34, 35, of frame 33. Flanges 51 of rollers 56 prevent the indicator housing from dropping out of frame 33 whenever the bottom part 36 is lowered.

Under normal condition, the metal plate 28 will press against the indicator wheel which in turn will press the wheel housing 53 against the balls 58, which are located between the upper surface of the wheel housing and the lower inner surface of the top portion of the indicator housing 54. The latter will thus be pressed against frame 38 which, as previously described, is thus pressed against the rails 32, 33, of casing 2|. The lower surface of indicator housing 54 is provided with a ring 53, to retain the wheel housing 53 in position when the hinged part 26 of the casing 2| is lowered. The indicating de-- vice 20 also comprises a pointer device 60, which has a stem 6|, fastened in suitable manner to a bearing 62, and set off from the center. The upper end of stem 6| engages a circular frame 63, fastened to an arrow or pointer disc 64, underneath which is held a lens 65, to throw the light from an incandescent lamp 66 through the arrow-formed opening 61 of disc 64, onto the back surface of the road map 22. The point of the arrow 61 is at the geometrical center of the disc 84 and remains fixed although a rotation of the disk will change the position of the arrow.

Pointer disc 64 is rotatably held in a bracket or hut I0, fastened with screws II Fig. 11 to the upper surface of the slidable indicator housing 54.

The electric bulb 66 is held in an interchangeable bracket I2 Figs. 8, 9, which can be made to snap onto a side wall of but 10 by means of flat springs I3 or in any other suitable manner known to those skilled in this art.

The wheel housing 53 with its pointer device 60 is rotated by a worm I5, Figs. 1 and 13, engaging a worm gear I6 forming a part of the housing 53. Worm I5, rotatably held in the indicator housing 54, is engaged with the keyed end part of a flexible shaft 11, held in a suitable tubular holder I8, which is flanged and held against indicator housing by means of a nut I9.

Flexible shaft 11 is operated and its speed is regulated by a direction control which comprises a stepless variable speed transmission BI and a reciprocating control device 82, Fig. 1.

The transmission is mounted in the control housing 83, Figs. 17 and 18, and consists of a friction disc,84, a friction roller 85, and the intermediary balls 86, which are pressed against the roller by the disc, and kept under constant pressure by a spring 81.

The hardened roller 85, held in suitable ball bearings, is connected to the other keyed end part of flexible shaft 11, of which its flanged holder 98 is screwed to the control housing by means of a nut 89. The'other end of roller 85 is provided with an extension and knurled knob 90 which permits the operator of the vehicle to rotate flexible shaft 11 and through this the pointer disc with arrow 61.

This is required at the time the pointer is to be set relative to a newly inserted road map or it may be set when desiring to make small correction of the arrows position while the device is operating.

The hardened steel balls 86 are guided in a roller cage 8| of known construction which is supported by the lateral walls 92, 93, of housing 83. Cage 9I is operatively associated with the reciprocation control device 82, Fig. 1, by means of a flexible push and pull rod 94.

This rod is connected with a bar 95 fast to cage 9i which has a compression spring 96 acting against a shoulder of bar 95.

The push and pull rod 94 is mounted in the usual manner by means of a flanged sleeve 98, which a threaded nut 99 maintains on a cap housing I00. The latter is screwed to the outer wall surface of the control housing 83.

The other end of the flexible connector rod 94 is welded into, or fastened in any other suitable manner to, a control lever I02 forming a part of the reciprocating control device 82, Figs. 4 and 5. This lever is fulcrumed in a circular casing I03. The latter is provided with a clamp I04, wherewith to fasten the casing to the steering arm I05 of the vehicle.

Connector rod 94 enters into the casing I03 through an embrasure, I06, which serves as a guide of the rod during its swinging'operation.

The other extension of control lever I02 is connected to a stay rod I01, fulcrumed to an adjustable bar I08. The latter is slidably mounted in a guide piece I09, which is fastened to' the automobile frame IIO, by means of a suitable clamp III.

While the steering arm I05 is moving, the connector rod 94 is subjected to two distinct motions. One thereof is a free-swinging motion with no influence on the transmission device 8|. The other motion, however, is one which will cause the roller cage 9| to move, due to the fact that the stay rod II maintains a fixed position, thereby forcing the lever I02 to rotate and thus change the connector rods location relative to steering arm I05, as shown in dotted lines in Fig. 4.

Due to differences in gear and lever ratios of the various makes of steering mechanisms in automobiles, the distance A between the centers of the steering arm and the control lever I02 vary in accordance thereto.

It is therefore necessary to clamp the lever housing I03 to the steering arm'at a definite location from its center depending on the make of the car. The adjustable bar I08 is to be positioned accordingly.

The driving disc 84 of the transmission device is rotated by suitable gearing H5, H6, In, con-- nected by miter gears II8, to a worm shaft H9, which is driven by a flexible speed shaft I20, Figs. 1 and 17. The speed shaft I20 is operated by the speedometer I2I of the automobile to which it is connected by suitable gearing I22.

Worm I24 on worm shaft I I9 drives worm gear I25 on vertical shaft I26, which is provided with a worm I2I driving a worm gear I28. The latter is rotatably mounted on a cam shaft I30, which is driven by this worm gear through an engaging device I3I. By means of this 'device the cam shaft I30 will be driven in only one direction of rotation but will remain idle for a definite period if worm gear I28 is turned in opposite direction.

Cam shaft I30 drives six or more cam wheels I32, each of which is provided with a set of toothed segments or cams I33. The number of cams differs with each wheel and is made subject to the size and the scale of the road map to be selected. An osclllatable contact finger or plug I35 connected to a flexible rod I36, is operated by one of the'icam wheels I32. The finger I35 is inserted and slidably held in one of the plug holes I3I in the front wall I38 of housing 83, Figs. 16 and 17. A threaded nut I39, freely rotatable on a flanged sleeve I40 and screwed against the threaded extension of a plug hole, prevents the contact finger I35 from falling out. A compression spring I4I constantly presses the slidable plug or finger I35 with the rod I36, in the direction towards a cam wheel I32.

The other end of the flexible rod I38 is connected to the wheel mounting of the indicator device 20, Fig. 12. The protective shell or cable I42, surrounding this rod is rotatably held in the bearing 62 of the wheel mounting 53. The end part of the rod I36 is rotatably held in a ratchet lever I43 on shaft I. The other end of this lever has a spring-operated pawl I44 which engages and drives in its forward movement a ratchet wheel I45. An up and down movement of the oscillating rod I38 will therefore actuate the ratchet wheel and with it the indicator wheel 50. A stop pawl I46 mounted on the inner wall of wheel housing 53, prevents a return movement of the wheel 50. Since the latter is kept under pressure, as previously described, it is evident that a steplike operation of the indicator wheel 50 will move the indicator device 20, and with it the arrow 61, in that direction in which the wheel happens to be rotated.

If this direction is not changed or, in other words, if the wheel housing 53 is not rotated by the worm I5, so that by reason thereof the two steel balls 86 are kept located in the center of the transmission disc 84, Fig. 1, the arrow of the indicator device will operate on a straight line. This is regardless of the direction the indicator wheel 50 assumes relative to the surface of the metal plate 28 on which it is rotated. The arrow underneath the road map may therefore travel on a straight line in all directions of a plane.

It is evident that while the vehicle is in motion, the arrow 61 does move also and will vary its speed with that of the vehicle.

At the moment the steering lever I05 is moved from a neutral location to either the left or to the right, the steel balls 86 will leave the center of the transmission disc 84 and move in a direction corresponding to that in which the steering lever is moved. This will cause the balls 06 to rotate, and with them the transmission cylinder 85, which in consequence thereof will rotate the arrow 61 around its geometrical center and make the same point to either the left or the right relative to its original location.

If therefore the steel balls 66 are not returned to the center of the disc for a certain length of time the arrow will change its location constantly. During this period the arrow makes two distinct movements, one of which is to indicate the motion and speed of the vehicle and the other is to indicate the constant change of direction thereof. It is evident that during these two distinct motions of the arrow, the vehicle must describe a curve and that if the displaced steel balls are kept in one location the curve described by the vehicle must be circular.

The further away the balls are moved from the center of the disc, the sharper the described curve will be.

It was previously stated that the arrow is to indicate only the forward movement of the vehicle. To indicate a backward movement of the vehicle is not considered necessary, because a travel in that direction is made for very short distances and this in exceptional cases only.-

Due to the great reduction in scale to which the road maps are drawn, the distance traveled backward is so short, that it would not be noticed on a map.

The ratchet wheel I45 and the cam wheels I32 are therefore made to operate in one direction only. Since however the flexible speed shaft I20 will be rotated in reversed direction, when the vehicle moves backward, the various gears connected thereto will rotate in a reversed direction also. In this case the worm gear I28, due to the single directed engaging device III, will operate idly and will not rotate the cam wheels I02.

While the backward motion of a vehicle need not be, and consequently is not being, shown, the direction of a turning motion of the vehicle during a backward movement is, however, indicated by the arrow 61. This, as diagrammatically shown in Fig. 2, is due to the fact that a reversed movement of the speed shaft I20 will also reverse the direction of the transmission disc 84, which in turn will reverse the direction of the arrow 61, whenever the steering lever I05 is operated. If, therefore, the front wheels of a vehicle are steered to the left, as shown in Fig. 2, the arrow 61 will also point left, if the vehicle moves forward, but it will point to the right if the movement is backward which means that the front wheels move toward the right.

The housing 05 of the speed and direction control is provided with a suitable clamp device I50, Fig. 17, whereby to fasten this housing to the dash board I5I of the vehicle Fig. 3.

The map and indicator housing 2|, maintaining the road map, is preferably mounted to the dash board of the #ehicle by means of two clamp devices I52, Fig. 6, which are provided with channels I53. The latter are engaged by slidable channel I54 with stop posts or screws I55 to limit their movement in both directions. The slidable channels are engaged by angle pieces I66 which are mounted to the outer side-walls of the upper portion of the map housing 2|. The screw heads I51 will limit the movement of the casing relative to the channel pieces I54.

With the slidable arrangement described, it is thus possible to move the casing with its road map from underneath the dash board whenever needed and to move it out of the way when not desired.

The lower portion 26 of the road map casing is provided with a long slot-like opening I58, Fig. 6, to permit the cables I 20, I36 to move to and fro.

When desiring to displace a road map for another, the operator will switch or turn to one side the spring-like clamps I60, mounted on the top frame of map housing 2I. Thereafter, the top glass plate is removed; the new map is laid flat on the lower glass plate 23, the top plate is inserted and the clamps I60 are relocated.

To position the arrow 61 relative to a definite location on the map, the operator will see to it that the'eiectric bulb 66 is burning so as to notice the position of the arrow underneath the map. The lower part 26 of map housing 2I is then swung downward and the indicator device 20 is moved by hand. The arrow may thus be located on any selected point shown on the map. The lower part 26 of map housing is thereafter raised and replaced into its original and normal position.

One more operation is required which is that of setting the arrow relative to the direction in which it is to point. The operator will there fore rotate knob 90, extending from the housing 03, Fig. 3, which in turn will cause the wheel housing to operate and turn the arrow 61 in the direction desired.

It is evident that this same knob may also be turned by hand while the operator is driving. This may be necessary whenever a slight correction in the arrow's location relative to its direction is required.

The size of the road map is preferably 8 to 12 inches square or rectangular, depending on the size of the road map housing.

A 10 inch road map, drawn to a scale of one inch per 50 miles will therefore show 500 miles in a straight line and if the automobile is to travel 50 miles per hour, the lighted arrow will travel along the selected roadline at the rate of one inch per hour. The roadline on the map, if drawn to a scale of say one inch per 25 miles, will be traveled over by the arrow at the rate of one inch per one-half hour or two inches per one hour, if the automobile has the same speed of 50 miles per hour.

It is evident that the road map may be positioned in any desired locations, regardless of the four cornersof the road map housing. A part may even be cut out from a large sized map and be inserted into the housing, regardless of its outer contour.

While my invention discloses only a single fill form and embodiment of a direction and position indicator for motor vehicles, it is understood that various modifications thereof may be apparen to those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit and scope of my invention and it is therefore understood that the same is only to be limited by the scope of the prior art and the appended claims.

I claim:

1. In a direction and position indicator located in a motor vehicle, a stationary road map visible to the occupant of the vehicle, means comprising a linear-formed indicator of which its extent gives the direction, while one of its extremities notes a place on a road line on said map, which line represents a road on which the vehicle is located and further means adapted to move said pointing means in different directions and to successively rotate said pointing means on its axis, whereby to respectively indicate on said road line the movement as well as the direction of movement of the vehicle on the road.

2. In a direction and position indicator located in a motor vehicle, a road map visible to the occupant of the vehicle, means to point at a road line on said map, which line represents a road on which the vehicle is located, means to operate said pointing means, to indicate on said road line the movement, as well as the direction of movement of the vehicle on the road and a speed selecting device, wherefrom to pick a selected speed for said pointing means, which speed is to correspond to one required when the road map is substituted for another drawn to a different scale.

3. In a direction and position indicator located in a motor vehicle, a road map visible to the occupant of the vehicle, means comprising a linear-formed indicator, of which its extent gives the direction, while one of its extremities notes a place on a road line of said map, which line represents a road on which the vehicle is located, means adapted to move said pointing means in diiierent directions and to successively rotate said pointing means on its axis, whereby to respectively indicate on said read line the movement as well as the direction of forward movement of the vehicle on the road and further means to adjust the position of the pointing means in regard to its location relative to said map.

4. In a direction and position indicator located in a motor vehicle, a road map visible to the occupant of the vehicle, means comprising a linear formed indicator to point at a road line on said map, which line represents a road on which the vehicle is located, means to operate said pointing means, to indicate on said road line the movement as well as the direction of movement of the vehicle on the road and further means for successively adjusting the position of the pointing means while operating.

5. An indicating mechanism for motor vehicles, comprising a road map and a movable indicator for said' road map and mechanically actuated means adapted to move said indicator at a speed proportionate to the speed of the vehicle, said mechanically actuated means being further adapted to move said indicator into all directions of a plane and to successively rotate the same on its axis and thereby direct said indicator so as to point at and to follow on said road map a selected road line having more than one direction.

6. An indicating mechanism for motor vehicles, comprising a road map and a movable linearformed indicator for said road map and mechanically actuated means adapted to move said indicator at a speed proportionate to the speed of the vehicle, said mechanically actuated means being further adapted to move said indicator in successive steps-of predetermined length into all directions of a-plane and to successively rotate the same on its axis and thereby direct said indicator so as to point at and to follow on said road map a selected road line having more than one direction.

7. An indicating mechanism for motor vehicles, comprising a road mapv and a movable indicator for said road map and mechanically actuated means adapted to move said indicator at a speed proportionate to the speed of the vehicle, said mechanically actuated means being further adapted to move said indicator into all directions of a plane and to successively rotate the same on its axis and thereby direct said indicator, so as to indicate on the map the location of the vehicle relative to the road and to follow on said road map a curved road line, which represents a curved road on which the vehicle travels.

8. An indicating mechanism for motor vehicles, comprising a stationary road map and a movable indicator for said road map, comprising a linear-shaped pointer means to change the geographical direction of said pointer and means I to move said indicator bodily and independent of said change means at a speed proportionate to the speed of the vehicle and further means to change the course of said indicator from a straight to a diverted direction while at the same time changing the direction of its pointer relative to the road line on the map, in imitation of the change of direction of the vehicle, said changing means comprising a variable speed device and a flexible control of same operatively connected to the steering mechanism of the motor vehicle.

9. An indicating mechanismior motor vehicles, comprising a road map and a movable indicator for said road map, means to move said indicator at a speed proportionate to the speed of the vehicle and further means to change the course of said indicator from a straight to a diverted direction, corresponding to'the change of direction of the vehicle, said changing means comprising a variable speed device and a flexible control operatively connected to the steering mechanism of the motor vehicle in proportionate relation to the change in directive movement of the vehicle, said flexible control comprising an adjustable lever, and means for adjusting said lever.

10. An indicating mechanism for motor vehicles, comprising a road map and a movable indicator for said road map, means to move said indicator at a speed proportionate to the speed of the vehicle and further means to change the course of said indicator from a straight to a diverted direction, corresponding to the change of direction of the vehicle, said changing means comprising a variable speed device, an oscillatable connector forming part of said device, and a flexible control, said control being operatively associated with the steering mechanism of the motor vehicle, and comprising an adjustable lever and means for adjusting said lever.

11. In a mechanism of the character described and located in a motor vehicle, a road map and a pointer for said road map, a friction surface, a rotatable device maintaining said pointer, a friction wheel movably held against said friction surface and associated with said rotatable device mechanically actuated, means to successively rotate said device with said pointer in proportionate relation to the change in angular movement of the vehicle and further mechanically actuated means to turn said friction wheel, whereby to move said device and said pointer in proportionate relation with the speed of the motor vehicle.

12. In a mechanism of the character described and located in a motor vehicle, a road map and a pointer for said road map, a friction surface, a rotatable device maintaining said pointer, a friction wheel movably held against said friction surface and associated with said rotatable device, means to rotate said device with said pointer in proportionate relation to the change in angular movement of the vehicle, means to turn said friction wheel, whereby to move said device and said pointer in proportionate relation with the speed of the motor vehicle and further means to select a different speed for said friction wheel, whereby to change the proportionate relation with the speed of the vehicle, when said road map is substituted for one drawn to a different scale.

13. In a mechanism of the character described, and located in a motor vehicle, a road map and a pointer for said road map, a friction surface, a

rotatable device maintaining said pointer, a friction wheel movably held against said friction surface and associated with said rotatable device mechanically actuated, means to successively rotate said device with said pointer, in proportionate relation to the change in angular movement of the vehicle and further mechanically actuated means to turn said friction wheel in successive steps, whereby to move said device and said pointer in proportionate relation with the speed of the motor vehicle.

14. A mechanism of the character described, located in a motor vehicle, comprising a road map and an indicator having a perforated and illumihated pointer, located underneath said road map, said indicator comprising a linear-formed pointer of which its extent gives the direction, while one of its extremities is positioned to note a, place on a road line of said map and means adapted to move, as well as direct the movement of said pointer along a road line on said map, in proportionate relation with the related speed and the angular movement of the motor vehicle.

15. A mechanism of the character described, located in a motor vehicle, and comprising a housing, a road map therein, a movable pointer,

' means, connected to the speed indicator and the steering mechanism of the vehicle, to move said pointer, respectively direct the movement of said pointer along a road line on said map, in proportionate relation with the related speed and angular movement of the motor vehicle and further means adapted to displace said housing from a position in which its pointer may be observed to one where the pointer is out of sight, while maintaining the connection with the speed indicator and the steering mechanism of the vehicle.

16. In a, mechanism of the character described, a map housing and a map indicator device in said housing and means to support and to guide said device during its movement, said device comprising an indicator housing and a friction wheel support rotatably held in said indicator housing, a friction wheel rotatably mounted in said wheel support and contacting with a surface of said map housing, means to 'drive said friction wheel for a movement of said wheel support and Sa d indicator housing in either direction of a plane, a pointer device maintainedin the geometrical centre of and operatively associated with said wheel support and mechanically actuated operating means to rotate said wheel support in said indicator housing.

17. In a mechanism of the character described, a map housing and a map indicator device in said housing and means to support and to guide said device during its movement, said device com prising an indicator housing, an electric light shield at its top and a friction wheel support rotatably held in said indicator housing, a pointer device rotatable in said light shield and means to illuminate said pointer device, a friction wheel rotatably mounted in said wheel support and contacting with a surface of said map housing, means to actuate said friction wheel for a movement of said wheel support and said indicator housing in either direction of a plane, said pointer device being operatively associated with and in the geometrical centre of said wheel support and further means for rotating said wheel support and thereby directing said friction wheel.

18. In a mechanism of the character described, a map housing and a map indicator device in said housing and means to support and to guide said device during its movement, said device comprising an indicator housing and a friction wheel support rotatably held in said indicator housing, a friction wheel rotatably mounted in said wheel support and contacting with a surface of said map housing, means to drive said friction wheel in one direction of rotation for a movement of said wheel support and said indicator housing on a plane, a rotatable pointer device maintained in the geometrical centre of and operatively associated with said wheel support and mechanically actuated operating means for rotating said wheel supportin both directions, and thereby steering said friction wheel in any direction of a plane.

19. In a mechanism of the character described, a road map visible to the occupant of the vehicle in which the mechanism is located, means to point at a road line on said map, which line represents a road on which the vehicle is located, means to operate said pointing means, to indicate on said road line the movement, as well as the direction of movement of the vehicle on the road and a speed selecting device, wherefrom to pick a selected speed for said pointing means, which speed is to correspond to one required when the map is substituted for another drawn to a different scale, said selecting device comprising a series of rotatable cam wheels and an oscillatable contact finger selectively locatable against the cam surfaces of either one of said pointing means which is operatively associated with said contact finger.

20. In a mechanism of the character described, a stationary road map, axially operable means to point at a road line on said map, means for automatlcally rotating the axis of and for imparting a linear movement to said pointing means and a hand operable adjusting means for rotatably adlusting the pointing means on its axis relative to the automatic rotation of said pointing means.

21. In a mechanism of the character described, a stationary road map, axially operable means to point at a road line on said map, means forautomatically rotating the axis of and for imparting a linear movement to said pointing means, hand operable adjusting means for rotatably adjusting the pointing means on its axis relative to the automatic rotation of said pointing means and a speed selecting device for the control of magnitude of the linear movement of said pointing means.

22. In a mechanism of the character described, a map housing, a stationary road map therein, a movable pointer and means adapted to operate said pointer to follow a road line on said map, said map housing comprising a withdrawable bottom part, for permitting an approach to said pointer and to said operating means from without. 23. A mechanism of the character described. comprising a map housing, means to slidably maintain said housing to a wall of a motor vehicle, a stationary road map in said housing, a movable pointer and means adapted to operate said pointer to follow a roadline on said map, said map housing comprising a withdrawable bottom part, for permitting an approach to said pointer and to said operating means from without.

24. In a mechanism of the character described, a map housing, a stationary road map therein, a movable pointer, means adapted to operate said pointer to follow a road line on said map and a speed selecting device operatively associated with said pointer, said speed selecting device showing a legend for each selectable speed, each legend comprising a scale, having a length proportionate to the size of the map to be used.

25. In a direction and position indicator located in a motor vehicle, a stationary road map visible to the occup. .t of the vehicle, an indicator, comprising a perforated pointer to point at a. road line on said map, an electric bulb to illuminate said indicator, and a lens, located underneath said pointer to transmit a concentrated light beam through its perforation onto the map and further means adapted to move said indicator with said lens in different directions, to indicate on said road map the movement as well as direction of movement of the vehicle on the road.

26. In a mechanism of the character described, a map housing, a stationary road map therein, a movable pointer and means adapted to operate said pointer to follow a road line on said map, said map housing comprising a withdrawable bottom part adapted to produce a pressure on said operating means, for the operation thereof.

27. In a vehicle on a road, a map having a line corresponding to said road, means to visibly indicate on said corresponding road line the vehicles geometrical position and the direction of travel of said vehicle, mechanically actuated operating means for moving said indicating means in relation to the movement of said vehicle and further means for automatically changing during its movement the direction of said indicating means in definite relationto a change in direction of said vehicle on the actual road.

HANS HOHIMANN. 

